Soft top or hard top...that is the question

[thixon]

My original plan was to go with a canvas top. Now I'm floundering. It will be much easier to transport crap with a roof rack up top.

Proponents for both sides please weigh in. Bring up anything you can think of no matter how trivial.

Thanks,

[KevinNY]

First of all you live down south, 1 big vote for canvas. It's much cooler and quieter. Second, how much crap do you really need to carry up top?

[thixon]

First of all you live down south, 1 big vote for canvas. It's much cooler and quieter. Second, how much crap do you really need to carry up top?

Not too much crap, but I do have kayaks. I have toyed with the idea of building a rack similar to what you see on soft top wranglers, but stength would be an issue.

My hardtop has sliding windows, so at least I could open those!

[Wander]

BOTH!

What kind of seatbelt set up do you have? If you have three point belt you will have to relocate the anchor to the middle bulkhead or install a roll bar-ish anchor support like they have in the lightweight's.

[Andrew IIA]

Second, how much crap do you really need to carry up top?

Oh Kev, don't get me started on how much crap I put on the roof (the dogs take up all the room in the back )

I'm a hard-top guy all the way. The roof rack is so useful:

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[Jim-ME]

I am happy with my soft top and one of Ike's receiver hitches. A trailer is also very useful item.
Jim

[NickDawson]

Travis - I share your conflict!
I love the look of the hard tops more than anything - to me, that is just quintessential.

Right now I'm running a soft top for two reasons:
1) comfort - in the summer here in Virginia, it would be 100f+ easily with a hard top and
2) condition - I have a brand new soft top and a well used hard top. It is bare metal, loud and dirty.

My goal is to fix up my hard top, add a head liner, etc ... get a nice roof rack...
but that still doesnt solve the comfort issue. Looking forward to hearing from others on this - surely one of the biggest dilemmas in rover ownership

[yorker]

If I were where you are I'd opt for a soft top and a trailer for the larger loads. I'm just not a fan of roof racks.

[LR Max]

Hard top is more practical for multipurpose role. Also a lot less leaky than the soft top I had before. The roof is actually pretty stout, I've gotten it against trees and it just left a scrape rather than tearing canvas. That is nice. I can actually see out of the back and accessing the rear cargo area is just a single lever...rather than undoing 8,000 feet of rope and 500 buckles and crap.

It is louder...stock. But if memory serves me correctly, you can install a headliner and it'll help.

I went from a leaky canvas top to a hard top and unless the rover became a true garage/trailer queen, I'd never swap back.

[slorocco]

BOTH! Hard top with rack for the winter, Soft top for the summer. I love the open feel of a rolled up soft top in the summer, and it really is quieter without that hard top on.

[crankin]

My original plan was to go with a canvas top. Now I'm floundering. It will be much easier to transport crap with a roof rack up top.

Proponents for both sides please weigh in. Bring up anything you can think of no matter how trivial.

Thanks,

I'll take the rack off your hands if you go the soft top route.

[SeriesShorty]

I like my soft top and it doesn't leak...much. I love rolling up the rear and the sides and leave it that way for most of the year. I've considered going to a hard top just for ease of adding seat belts, but that's about the only reason. I'm happy with the soft top.

I had a half rack on my Disco that I am considering adapting to fit over the soft top for times when I do need to haul crap around that won't fit in the tub. I need to start sweet talking FWW (Friends With Welder) to prepare for this project.

I also have a pick up top at my brothers house in TN that I hope to be able to take home with me next time I visit him.

[rwollschlager]

I like the soft top on my sIII 88 because its easy to go from having a top, to no top at all in a matter of minutes. You can remove a hard top but it takes longer and its usually a two person job.

-Rob

[ducttape]

My 109 had a soft top, the new 88 (which I am getting this weekend) hard top. I would very much like to do the soft top again. Carrying is/could be an issue, but there is nothing like riding with the flaps up (12 months out of the year)

Has anyone come up with a good rack system for soft top so canoe etc can be stuck up there while still preserving the soft top idea?

[TedW]

After using both here up north, I say soft top.

Cooler in the summer, warmer in the winter, quieter all year round.

And I imagine that someone on this forum has solved the rack issue.